Women’s Barbershop Quartet Makes Harmony History
This style of a cappella singing came about in the late 1800s, a Southern, African-American art form. The Barbershop Harmony Society, an organization designed to promote it, was first founded in 1938, but membership was only open to men until 2018. Non-male quartets began competing in its annual contest in 2022 – that year, GQ placed fourth. [GQ includes female singers Amanda Sandroni, Katie Gillis, Ali Hauger and Samantha Tramack.]
Now, after nailing a six-song set featuring tunes from a range of musical genres, GQ is on top – and they’re thrilled. “We are overwhelmed with gratitude, humbled beyond words, and incredibly honored to join the legacy of those who came before us,” the group said of their win in a Facebook post. “We do not take that responsibility lightly.”
Over 5,000 singers signed on for the competition, which took place over the course of eight days, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch learned. The Society itself said of GQ, in a release on the group’s win, that “their high-energy performances are known for impeccable tuning, rich texture and passionate presentation,” which helped them stand out among the many.
The group, which was founded in July 2011, has thousands of fans around the world. And they were equally thrilled by GQ’s victory. Said one fan: “Watching and listening to you in high school made me fall in love with barbershop, and it’s amazing to see such incredible musicians bring a woman’s perspective to this art form we love so much!”